Aycha Sawa

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Aycha Sawa

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Milwaukee City Comptroller

Successor: Bill Christianson

Predecessor: Martin Matson

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Report an officeholder change

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2006-05

Personal

Birthplace

Milwaukee, Wis.

Profession

Accounting

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Aycha Sawa was the Milwaukee City Comptroller in Wisconsin. She assumed office on April 21, 2020. She left office in 2024.

Sawa ran for election for Milwaukee City Comptroller in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 7, 2020.

Sawa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Aycha Sawa was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006. Sawa’s career experience includes working as a government accountant.

Elections

2020

See also: City elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2020)

General election

General election for Milwaukee City Comptroller

Aycha Sawa defeated Jason Fields in the general election for Milwaukee City Comptroller on April 7, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Aycha Sawa (Nonpartisan)	50.4	41,298
		Jason Fields (Nonpartisan)	49.2	40,300
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	347

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,945
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Milwaukee City Comptroller

Jason Fields and Aycha Sawa defeated Alex Brower in the primary for Milwaukee City Comptroller on February 18, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jason Fields (Nonpartisan)	43.0	25,305
✔		Aycha Sawa (Nonpartisan)	30.4	17,913
		Alex Brower (Nonpartisan)	25.9	15,248
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	412

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,878
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Aycha Sawa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sawa's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm an accounting and finance professional, not a politician. My parents immigrated from Turkey. My father was a statistics professor. I was born in Milwaukee. I studied accounting at University of Wisconsin-Madision. I earned my CPA license (Certified Public Accountant) and my CIA license (Certified Internal Auditor). I worked as an auditor for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. I worked at Baker Tilly auditing various governments. I have spent the last 10 years at the City of Milwaukee Comptrollers Officer being promoted multiple times from Lead Auditor to Deputy Comptroller. I am a proud homeowner in the Downer Woods neighborhood in Milwaukee with my husband and daughter.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Transparent & Trusted
• Experience and Qualifications matter
• Accountability

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

It is important to be well informed before making a policy decision. It is important to be independent and unbiased in analysis regarding public policy. It is important to ensure departments are properly audited and proper overseen. It is important to identify and eliminate fraud to effectively and efficiently use tax payers dollars.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office is the Chief Financial Officer of the City which plays a large part in maintaining the integrity of the accounting and financial statements of the City. It also provides the monitoring role through ensuring compliance with fiscal oversight of grants, carrying out the internal audit function. The office also does independent fiscal analysis, revenue analysis and runs the city's debt program.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

My number one philosophy especially as a CPA and a leader is to act with integrity. If you are acting with the utmost ethics in mind, the City's best interests are most likely going to be upheld this way. Second, I believe in independence and unbiased analysis from other elected officials. This means conducting work with professional skepticism (taking a hard look and analyzing). Lastly, it is crucial to be an active and engaged listener in order to take all views and concerns from the public and other City officials to be able to come to an accurate and thoughtful conclusion on whatever the topic is.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have the accounting expertise, management experience, and institutional knowledge to hit the ground running on day one. I also believe that I have an ingrained set of ethics and integrity that will make me a solid leader for our community.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities are as follows:

- ensure accurate accounting of all transactions for the City

- ensure accurate financial statements for the City by producing the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

- ensure that the grants received are monitored 

- payroll is processed timely and accurately

- the debt program is managed well

- revenue estimates and fiscal analyses are performed as accurately as possible

- internal audit division carries out an independent risk based audit plan of all city departments

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was babysitting for neighbor kids. I actually went and got my babysitting certification before I started babysitting. My parents wanted me to have the proper training. I babysat throughout highschool.

I always liked babysitting because I was able to be like a big sister for the day but also had a chance to play with kids at the same time.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

5 Little Monkeys :) I have a 17 month old :))

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Yes - the City Comptroller recognizes revenue as the CFO as well as setting accounting policy. The City Comptroller also has jurisdiction to audit all City departments in many capacties which the audit division carries out.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, for someone to be effective in this role it is imperative that someone have an accounting and finance background especially in government accounting. This role manages a team of auditors and other finance professionals. The leader of this office should be an expert to ensure and effective and efficient team.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

A finance and accounting education., experience in governmental accounting and experience managing a team in a professional setting.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Milwaukee City Comptroller

Website

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Martin Matson	Milwaukee City Comptroller 2020-2024	Succeeded by Bill Christianson